Official's Error

[BktBallRef]

Originally posted by Sven
Had a similar situation occur in a JV game. Inbounding Team A was late getting out after a TO, so I put the ball on the floor and began the count. A confused defensive player, assuming the ball was up for grabs, darted out of bounds, picked up the ball, and tossed it to a teammate in one fell swoop.

I was too startled to react immediately, but finally blew the whistle stopping play before Team B scored and awarded the ball to Team A (again).

Case 7.5.2B seems pretty clear in showing what I did to be in error. Needless to say, I'll be more protective of the ball in the future.

Sven

Actually, in the circumstance that you described, you were right in what you did. The difference is that your play was NOT a mistake by an official. It would be considered either an unsportsmanlike act or an act of confusion.

If you feel that B1 just took advantage of the sitch, then

a. Charge Team B with a technical foul.
b. Cancel the field goal, if B scored.
c. Cancel any common foul(s) committed and any nonflagrant foul against Team B in the act of shooting.
d. Put "consumed" time back on the clock.

Comment: If there is no doubt the throw-in was a result of confusion, especially after a time-out, the entire procedure would be followed except no technical foul would be charged. This procedure shall not be used in any other throw-in situation in which a mistake allows the wrong team to inbound the ball.

The only error of omission that you may have committed would be a failure to put time back on the clock.

Sometimes we don't screw up when we think we screwed up! You got it right and you didn't even know it!

[Edited by BktBallRef on Nov 22nd, 2000 at 11:56 PM]